Eye Doctors Debunk 5 Common Myths

Experts reveal what’s normal (and what’s not) when it comes to your peepers.

Even if you’ve always had 20/20 vision, time and habits can leave you squinting. (For the 159 million Americans who wear prescription eyeglasses, or the 45 million who wear contact lenses, you know what we’re talking about.) Protecting your peepers means separating fact from fiction, so we enlisted the help of experts to debunk five common myths about eyes.

1. Myth: You Only Need to See an Eye Doctor If You’re Having Vision Troubles

From age 18 to 40 you should get an eye exam about every five years; more often if you have vision issues, a family history of eye disease or diabetes, or high blood pressure. At age 40, you should get an exam that includes eye dilation. After that, have eye exams every two to four years then annually when you hit 55.

Dilating your eyes enables the doctor to examine your eyes for signs of disease. “The eye is like a house with two rooms, and everything you see in the mirror is the foyer,” Rebecca J. Taylor, M.D., clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology says. “Dilating expands the pupil, which is like a tiny keyhole, so a doctor can open the door and look at the great room of the eye where so many of the blinding eye diseases occur.” Diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration rarely cause symptoms until they’ve advanced, but if you catch them early, they’re usually treatable.

2. Myth: If You Start Wearing Reading Glasses, You’ll Become Reliant on Them

Near vision diminishes for everyone at some point after age 40. Readers prevent eye strain, not changes in your eyes, so go ahead and wear them. “You don’t get more dependent on the glasses; you see better,” Taylor says.

3. Myth: Floaters Are Always Normal

Floaters (spots or shadows that appear to move across your field of vision) can be harmless. But they can sometimes be a sign of retinal detachment, so if you’re suddenly seeing floaters, call your eye doctor ASAP, especially if you also see flashes of light.

In general, floaters develop because the gel inside your eye starts to liquefy partially, says Laura Sperazza, O.D., director of low vision services at Lighthouse Guild in New York City. That process tends to increase as you get older, which is why floaters are more common after 50. You’re also more likely to experience floaters if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, but good health habits can help minimize them. Over time, floaters tend to shrink or sink to the bottom of the eye, so they’re less noticeable.

4. Myth: It’s Normal for Your Peripheral Vision to Shrink as You Age

Although it’s common to have trouble seeing up close as you get older (because the eye lens becomes less able to change shape to shift focus from far to near), it’s not normal for your peripheral vision to change. If your side vision has become more limited or things in the distance have gotten blurrier, see your eye doctor to find out what’s going on; it could be a sign of glaucoma.

5. Myth: Eyes That Tear up Often Can’t Be Dry

If your eyes water a lot, it’s because they’re trying to compensate for a decrease in normal tear production. You have three types of tears: basal, which keep your eyes lubricated; reflex, which washes away irritants; and emotional, which happens when you’re sad or happy.

As you age (especially during menopause) basal tear production may decrease, causing a common condition called dry eye. Certain meds (including antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, and decongestants) can also dry basal tears. Eyes produce more reflex tears to make up for the loss of moisture, but they don’t moisturize as well. To treat dry eye, use over-the-counter artificial tears several times a day, Sperazza says. Also remind yourself to blink when you’re staring at a screen for a while, and stay hydrated.

Top Ways to Keep Your Eyes Healthy

Worried about your eye health? Don’t worry. There are three easy steps you can take to ensure your peepers stay in good shape.

1. Wear Shades

UV rays can lead to cataracts, eyelid skin cancers, even melanoma in and around the eye. Look for wraparound sunglasses with 100% UVA/UVB protection.

2. Eat Colorfully

Leafy greens are great sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that help protect vision. Vitamin C-rich fruits (oranges, grapefruit, etc.) are also good, as are beta-carotene–rich carrots.

3. Don’t Smoke

It damages the blood vessels in the eyes and puts you at risk for macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness after age 60 in the U.S.